Happy 4th of July

Time to celebrate our independence and thank all those who serve in our nation’s military, including one of the newest members. Taylor Jackson, daughter of ESPNLA.com beat writer Tony Jackson, graduated from basic training last weekend in the U.S. Navy. Congrats, Seaman Apprentice Taylor!

And congrats are also in order to Andre Ethier and Jonathan Broxton on their All-Star honors. A great case could have been made for Furcal, Kuo and even Kershaw, but I guess that’s what the All-Star selection Sunday is all about – debate. So feel free to debate it here.

Here’s hoping you all are enjoying a BBQ and watching or listening to the game and then roll out tomorrow night to Dodger Stadium for Fifth of July fireworks.

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77 Comments

Thank you to all our service men and women!!!! Your sacrifices and service are greatly appreciated!!! Long live the Red, White, and Blue!!!!!!! Congrats to Andre and Johnny!!! Way to go Taylor Jackson!!! And, as Trumom says……. GO DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to all of you who make us safe. It’s great to be an American and enjoy all the freedoms we have.
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Now, let’s get the win today….GO DODGERS!!!!!
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So proud of Andre and Brox for making the All-Star team.

Congrats Taylor Jackson and thank you!
thank you that have served and are serving in the military!
God Bless America
Congrats to Jonathan and Ethier!
Have a wonderful 4th everyone!
Emmahttp://crzblue.mlblogs.com

I am listening to the Dbacks broadcast and they were talking about Matt and his power. Once he learns he doesn’t have to pull the ball to get his power, he will be incredible, and it looks like he may be learning that.

Good to see Broxton back on track. We needed to win this series after losing on Friday. Great road trip (5-1), and now we’re at .500 for the season on the road (21-21). I’m looking for the Dodgers to cut into the Padres lead on the coming home stand.

Looks like the back end will be up to Belisario tonight. Weaver is due for a good outing and maybe Schlichting ( another name I have to learn how to spell ) will help again with a good inning or two.
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You have to wonder what a completely healthy Kuo would do.
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Looks like McDonald has disappeared.

knouffbrock – I was wondering what happened to McDonald as well, especially when are pitching isn’t going so well. It seems, like you said, he just disappeared. He had such promise, and than “poof”, he was gone, never to be heard from again.

Proving yet another thing about ol’ Ned… you either give JMac a real chance including allowing him to fail (could he have been any worse than Haeger or the Ortizi this year or last?) OR you trade him when he was a hot commodity. We of course know NedCo did neither and now JMac’s dwelling in anonimity.

Glad the “braintrust” finally gave up on making Lindblom a starter. The guy’s a reliever his entire college career, so hey, let’s make him a starter. Since they moved him back to the pen he’s pitched 10 innings and given up 3 runs with 5Ks and a walk.

Anyone know anything about this Jerry Sands kid? They moved him up to AA and he’s already popped 6 HRs.

Probably because we can’t get champagne on a Thunderbird budget Nells. Still don’t think another starter’s going to make a difference this year – this team’s really Jeckyll and Hyde… and I’m DAMNED SURE Harang isn’t going to make a bit of difference. Besides that, who’s he going to bump? We already have 5 starters I’d take over Harang any day of the week, and its not like we have the greatest starters to begin with.

Its typical of McCourt’s regime though – they’ll make a move just to make it look like they’re doing something, when in reality they’re going backwards with another worthless PVL. Either you go out and get an impact player or you don’t. There’s plenty of time for Ned to pick-up wothless PVLs in the offseason. Can hardly wait to get Dontrelle and Rausch before we start next spring.

In the current Bleacher Report, it lists the top 50 players who may be on the move. There aren’t any Dodgers listed, but the only player we “supposedly” are interested in is Aaron Harang (Reds). Ummmmmm, I know this is just rumors, but why aren’t we even mentioned as “rumored” to be interested in Lee, who happens to be the #1 player on the move.

Good afternoon everyone. I hope you all had a great 4th!!
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I’ve been busy with some out of town guests the last week or so, thus I’ve not been on here much. Nor have I seen any games since the Giants game I went to with Nelly & her family. Good times with the Nelly clan! Although I missed seeing True & D4!! Next time!!!
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Thanks again Nelly for arranging that at the last minute. It was nice to see you guys and get yelled at!!
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As far as Lee there is a report on CNN that the Dodgers were among teams that were scouting him on Sunday. So he might be in the mix but I wont believe it until I see it.
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I would rather see Oswalt as he has another year left in his contract, so we would have him next year as well.
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i do have a topic for conversation that I was wondering about. In the game against the Yanks where Bills blew up I was at my own game so I missed it. But looking back I saw pretty much all of his pitches were fastballs with a few sliders thrown in.
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In looking at an article yesterday they were talking about Kuo (Maybe it was with him I can’t remember) and the comment was that he has raised his game since he has added a slurve and a change-up. That has been my issue with Brox. Why doesn’t he change speeds. It is same speed all the time. If he learned to use his change it would make him a lethal pitcher. I think he is a great pitcher but he would be awesome and I don’t understand why he doesn’t have someone teaching him to thrown one, or insisting he thrown one if he can.It just seems like something that would make him that much more affective and have another weapon to use when his other pitches aren’t working.

I am sure the Dodgers are interested in Lee but realize the “price” may be too high. Or, to look at things another way, the Dodgers may not have enough to offer in a trade without giving up players currently on the 25 man roster. Realistically, the Dodgers have few options to replace any player on the roster and the minor leagues are a bit thin at the moment. But I agree with comments above that say the Dodgers need more than one starting pitcher. If the Padres can keep up with their smoke and mirrors, they may be hard to beat. All the talking heads keep saying they don’t believe the Padres can keep doing what they are doing. We will see.

It is a bit sad about McDonald. Not sure what the issue is with him. Is he a starter or reliever? In a way he reminds me of Dave Stewart. When Stewart came up with the Dodgers he seemed to have the tools but as I recall, his pitches came hard but straight, making him easy to hit. Somewhere along the line he figured things out and became what most would consider a good major league pitcher, at times even a dominating pitcher. Unfortunately, it was for Oakland and not the Dodgers or even the team that got him from the Dodgers. Maybe something like this will happen for MacDonald. So far, the organization seems to have a lot of patience for him.

As for the All Star game, congrats to Andre and Big Bad John. I did not vote this year, mostly because I just don’t like the process and the system but also because I was just too lazy to do it. This game has become more of a fan’s choice game and that is o.k. with me but I do find it a little unsettling that teams sometimes need to push fans to vote in a player. Don’t get me wrong, I think Andre is deserving, but he was a lot more deserving before the broken finger than after. I do hope he gets a chance to play and does well. It is refreshing to hear both Andre and Jonathon talk about their excitement at being selected. While I am opposed in principle to the DH, I can think of no better venue than the All Star game to use it. I also think it is time for Bud Selig to do away with the winner of this game getting home field advantage in the World Series and go back to the way it was before he made his ill timed decision. The players have enough incentive to win this game without an artificial prize that really does not benefit most of the All Star team members.

Well, the rumor here is that while the Giants are in Milwuakee, they might be taking Prince Fielder home with them. It’s been talked about, and now with Posey behind the plate, there is room at 1st base for him.

I would prefer to have Oswalt instead of Lee as well, but I don’t think we have the money for either one. I am with the rest that will believe it when we see it.

If the Giants get Prince Fielder without giving up a HUGE piece of their puzzle, we’re all in trouble.

Harang? I’d rather get nobody than Harang. I’d rather get less than nobody than Harang.

Garland was a pitcher I always felt would end up in Dodger Blue with somewhat of a good feeling. (Though Ned didn’t keep him because he still had value, and had not dropped to “was a has-been 2 seasons ago” status)\

Harang is a pitcher I’ve never wanted on my squad. No offense to him as a person, but I know what Ned’s given up for C-level talent in the past, and we will get screwed.

Thanx, everyone for the McDonald update. There is more about him in that bit of news on Monistarios. Maybe we’ll get that effective Mac back.
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That does conjure up a sight! Panda and Prince eating the giants out of house and home.

This Dodger team ranks 10 out of 16 in NL pitching. Pods are #1. Until this pitfall is addressed, it’ll be scratch and claw all season long. And no Harang or Lee or Oswalt is going to alter the mediocre depth on this staff. Ely has been a nice diversion…but it’s becoming obvious that he is what he is: a “nice” player we got for Juanpy.

Hi Everybody
I hope you all had a great independence day yesterday and today.
The Dodgers had enough practice now, so they should be able to beat a team from the NL East.
If not we’ll have to go back to the drawing board.
Good luck, Ely and get to work on Nate Robertson, guys.
GO DODGERS!!!!!

Harang isn’t what the Dodgers need. Another #5 pitcher is no bueno… It’s an Ace or nothing in my eyes. The youngsters could use a guy to take the pressure off of them.
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Down 2-0 early. It’ll be interesting to see how they rebound. I’m confident they can come back.
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I’m happy with Ely even though he gave up a couple. They didn’t hit him hard and a couple of breaks and they wouldn’t of scored that 2nd run. I’m also happy with him for the season. Even when he had some bad starts they were still winnable games.
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Go Blue!!!!

When I don’t think my admiration for Andre, both on and off the field, he once again impresses. The fact that he took the time to shake hands with every Marine on the field is just down right impressive, and THAT, and his ability on the field, is why he is an All-Star :)

Can’t believe Molina made it should’ve been McCain to start Olivo backing him up and how the hell did Rhodes and Meek made it and the only Pirates rep should be Mccutchen. If you going to used those 2 especially Rhodes than you have to have Kuo there.

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